Good Times: The Dysfunctions And Decline Of A Team
One of the greatest TV sitcoms of the 70’s is Good Times. We’ve all seen Good Times. It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white, we’ve all seen it. The show wasn’t just great for its time but it is still relevant to this day. You can still watch reruns of Good Times to this day! You can name every episode, quote every line, sing every lyric to the theme song and off course know all the characters and the catchphrases. It was a great show (one of my favorites) that shaped black history and culture. We’ve never seen a black two parent family household on TV trying to make ends meet until we saw Good Times. It addressed real issues and showed a family that had good morals and Christian values. Good Times was more realistic to us growing up in black neighborhoods. The show has had a tremendous impact on all of our lives and childhood rather you’re young or old. You will stop everything you’re doing to watch an episode of Good Times. It was that legendary and iconic. The show taught me gratitude. Seeing a family that was poor and struggling yet they were calling it good times. Everyone could laugh at JJ, learn something from little Michael and every guy has fallen in love with Thelma (she’s just that beautiful). Everyone could relate to James’ parenting method and Florida’s calm ways. Everyone knew someone like Willona who gossiped and everyone has a Bookman who can be a pain in the butt and a bother. We cannot deny the fact that the show changed our lives and the world. But one thing we cannot deny is the toxicity that was on the set, behind the scenes. Watching a documentary today on Good Times taught me that everything wasn’t peaches and cream like it appeared on the show. Matter of fact the cast was dysfunctional which caused the great show to decline. Let’s learn what Good Times can teach us about leadership.
Traits And Signs Of A Dysfunctional Team Heading For Decline (Modeled After The Good Times Cast)…
1. The Need For Control
Good Times was apparently supposed to be a spinoff of a show called, Maude. I’ve never seen the show before. But basically Good Times was going to be for Esther Rolle (Florida), the show was going to be about her. The show was originally intended for to show a black single mother raising her kids (similar to what later What’s Happening would be about). But Esther wasn’t doing the show unless she had a husband and the kids’ had a father. John Amos (James) then became the dad. This show was basically Esther’s show and I believe she let that power get to her head. She wanted to then control everything. Which almost resulted in Ja’Net DuBois not being Willona. Esther got upset because she didn’t get to do the hiring. She originally didn’t want Ja’Net DuBois to be on the show. Pride sunk in and she wanted to control how things were done. Just because the show was written around her being the lead character doesn’t mean she could make the leadership decisions. When we always have to be in control we can mess things up for us or for the good of the overall team.
2. Jealousy
After the first episode of Good Times, JJ’s saying “DYNOMITE” became popular. The writers saw the audiences’ reaction and it stuck. It became the catchphrase of the show resulting in JJ (Jimmie Walker) being the main character; “the star of the show.” With young Walker having a moment to shine, jealousy began to arouse between the cast. Esther (Florida) and John (James) became envious of Jimmie (JJ) because the show no longer became about them. Which resulted in John later walking away after season 3.
3. Debates Without Resolve
We have to learn how to argue effectively. Arguing effectively means we talk about something and it ends in a mutual decision or favorable result. Good Times was a black sitcom written by white writers. Of course the writers couldn’t relate to the characters because of a difference in racial and cultural background/upbringing. John Amos (James) didn’t like the direction of the show, he went against it and he was asked to leave. Esther Rolle (Florida) who later left the show because she demanded more money and they refused to give her more. She eventually came back for the last season. The fact that the writers couldn’t agree caused them to lose the two parents (who were extremely vital to the show).
4. Failure To Connect
An interview with Jimmie Walker revealed that the cast did absolutely NOTHING together. Besides recording the show, off the camera they had NOTHING to do with each other! They never talked! There was no genuine relationship. Jimmie (JJ) didn’t have Esther’s (Florida) or John’s (James) phone number. He hung out with Bern Nadette Stanis (Thelma) once she recalls. He said not a word to Janet Jackson (Penny) claiming he doesn’t talk to kids. And Ja’Net DuBois (Willona) believed Jimmie (JJ) didn’t like her. Maybe Jimmie was the problem. Was he becoming cocky and arrogant? Were they intimidated by his success? What if they were all mad and jealous of him? Who knows? The real question is: How do you work with people you don’t talk to or connect with? Teammates should build relationships with each other if they want longevity in working together.
5. Grasping For Survival
After John (James) left the show (end of season 3), Good Times’ ratings went down. When John left the show, the show died. Esther (Florida) couldn’t do it on her own. So then they got Moses Gunn to play Carl who became Florida’s love interest. Carl’s job was to take James’ role and that was an epic fail. Then when Esther left the show, Jimmie (JJ) became a father figure to his siblings Thelma and Michael, and the audience didn’t like a mature grown-up JJ. So they gave Willona more opportunity and they allowed Johnny Brown (Bookman) to be in the show more. It was terrible. Then they got Janet Jackson (Penny) to be Willona’s adopted daughter. They wanted Willona to replace Florida in a motherly way. Then Esther (Florida) came back and Thelma got married to Keith (played by Ben Powers). The writers of Good Times did everything to keep the show alive but after season 3 the show was already flatlining. They were trying to save something that was already over. Ratings could’ve went higher if they dealt with the toxic relationships before things got worst.
Leaders we can learn something from the cast of Good Times. The show was great but the leadership was terrible. If everything rises and falls on leadership the reason for the show’s failure was the people on the team. They were a team but they didn’t know how to be team players. It was every man for himself. Selfishness, pride and jealousy was at the core root of their failure. Instead of completing each other they were competing with each other. The problem with them was they didn’t understand that everyone’s role and contribution was significant. Everyone had a part to play (big or small) which made the show a success. But when they got wrapped up into titles and who was greater they failed.
Because they failed to address/ solve minor issues beforehand it ended in a predictable major destruction. If they would’ve humbled themselves, connected with other, recognized each other’s value and had a conversation the show could’ve lasted longer and been a greater success; even their relationships with each other would’ve been better. No doubt the show was successful (I’m not bashing your favorite show) but the leadership wasn’t good. Let’s learn from this guys.
Hubris, the need for control, jealousy, debate without resolve, failure to connect and recognize value and grasping for survival when it’s too late will cause your team to be dysfunctional and head for decline. Now let’s go watch an episode of Good Times. 😂😂😂
